Part 24 (2/2)

”That's an exaggerated statement, of course,” was the reply; ”but you seem in earnest No,” he continued, as Colin prepared to burst forth again, ”you've said enough”

The boy waited anxiously, for he felt that the ansould decide his career

”If your heart is set on the Fisheries,” his father rejoined thoughtfully, after a few minutes' reflection, ”I presume it would be unwise to stop you But re to fit you for any profession in life you want to take up, but only for one If you begin on anything you have got to go through with it I'll have no quitting As you knoould rather you had taken up lu, and perhaps your brother Roderick may like the woods You're sure, however, as to what you want?”

”I want fishes!” said Colin fir up the question a little since you wrote to me from Valdez,” Major Dare continued, ”because I saw that your old desires had increased instead of dying out You know, Colin, I want to help you as much as I can You realize that there's no school of fisheries, like the forestry schools, don't you?”

”Yes, Father”

”And that if you go into the Bureau the only way you can learn is by the actual work, hard work and dirty work, too, it will be often”

”Yes, sir,” the boy answered, ”I was told that, too”

”I wrote to the Commissioner,” said Major Dare, ”and explained the whole position to him He answered my letter in ayou thisHe pointed out frankly that the Bureau had so much to do and so littleas a 'soft job' wasn't known in the service”

”I'nantly

”I don't think you are, e,” was the warning answer ”You oughtn't to wait until you are in college before you make up your mind”

Colin looked across the table at his father andelse that I want to do,” he said firmly, ”and I do want that Of course, I'll do whatever you say, but I feel that the Bureau of Fisheries is where I' back?”

”No going back, Father!”

Major Dare reached out his hand, and the boy grasped it warmly

”Very well, my boy, that's a compact I'm not sure just ill need to be done to enter you in the Bureau, but whatever is necessary, we'll do I think you have decided on a life that will be hard and sometimes thankless, but at least it is a man's job, and will have its own co ton, visit the Fisheries Bureau together, and see what arrangements we can make”

”That's bully, Father,” said Colin earnestly; ”thank you ever so ood, my boy,” his father answered, ”that's all you have to do

You'll only have yourself to thank, for it will be all your own fight”

It was fortunate for Colin that this was not decided until the day before they left Santa Catalina, for he beca hours before they started for the East seeenuine that, although his ' conversation in Santa Catalina, she succeeded nobly in evincing an intense interest in the whole fish tribe

When they arrived in Washi+ngton, which chanced to be in the afternoon, Colin wanted to start off for the Bureau of Fisheries immediately, even before he went to the hotel, and he seerieved when the visit was put off Major Dare had some important business to look after and he purposed to leave the question of the boy's arrangements open for a couple of days, but he saw there would be no peace for any one until Colin's fate was settled, and at the boy's importunity he 'phoned to the Bureau andday